QQ-system and non-linear integral equations for scattering amplitudes at strong coupling

A bstract We provide the two fundamental sets of functional relations which describe the strong coupling limit in AdS 3 of scattering amplitudes in N = 4 SYM dual to Wilson loops (possibly extended by a non-zero twist l ): the basic QQ -system and the derived TQ -system. We use the TQ relations and the knowledge of the main properties of the Q -function (eigenvalue of some Q -operator) to write the Bethe Ansatz equations, viz. a set of (‘complex’) non-linear-integral equations, whose solutions give exact values to the strong coupling amplitudes/Wilson loops. Moreover, they have some advantages with respect to the (‘real’) non-linear-integral equations of Thermodynamic Bethe Ansatz and still reproduce, both analytically and numerically, the findings coming from the latter. In any case, these new functional and integral equations give a larger perspective on the topic also applicable to the realm of N = 2 SYM BPS spectra.